Hypothyroidism and Menstrual issues

[ChoH]

Anyone experiencing absence of periods or very light periods (spotting) with hypothyroidism/Hashimotos? Since I’ve been on levothyroxine 0.05mg after being switched from 0.025mg due to decrease in TSH, I’ve been having trouble getting a proper period. I’m also on minesse (oral contraceptive) for over a year now, but didn’t have issues getting my period whilst on the pill. Any advice on what to do ? I went to the gynae, he told me there was nothing internally wrong, it’s because of my thyroid issue. Both my physician and gynae have advised me to continue on levo 0.05mg and do bloods again in a months time

[shaws Administrator]

I haven't had problems but the following link might be helpful:-

An official website of the United States government:

helloclue.com/articles/cycl...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Are you in the U.K.?

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

So starting on 25mcg was extremely cautious

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

[ChoH in reply to SlowDragon]

I did have some blood tests done recently on the 2nd June 2021.

My results are as follows :

- vitamin B12 : 762 pmol/L (145 - 569)

-serum folate : 30.5 mmol/L (8.8 - 60.3)

- Vitamin D : 34ng/mL (sufficiency = >20ng/mL

- MCHC : 32.2L (32.7 - 34.9

-MPV : 12.1 H (7.3 - 11.3)

-triglycerides: 0.95mmol/L (optimal = <1.7 mmol/L)

-HDL : 2.02 mmol/L (optimal = >1.2 mmol/L)

-LDL : 2.70mmol/L (optimal = <3.0 mmol/L)

- Total cholesterol : 5.5 mmol/L (<5.0 mmol/L)

- TSH : 0.78 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

- free T4 : 20.0 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

-thyroglobulin : 18.7 ug/L (3.5 - 77.0)

- Anti-thyroglobulin Ab : 214 H U/mL (<115)

Initially when I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem which was in October 2018 my results were :

-TSH : 8.27 uIU/mL (0.35 - 4.94)

-FT4 : 9.5 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0)

-S-Iron : 21.4 umol/L (9.0 - 30.4)

-S-Ferritin : 34 ng/mL (15 - 160)

-triglycerides: 0.7 mmol/L (<1.7)

-HDL: 1.8mmol/L (>1.2)

-LDL: 2.6mmol/L (<3.0)

-total cholesterol: 4.7mmol/L (<5.0)

I was started on Euthyrox 0.05mg and 1.0mg on alternative days. I was on this treatment for one year (2019 - 2020) my TSH levels then became too low (0.02 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)) and free T4 became high (free T4: 26.8 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0). I was then changed to Euthyrox 0.025mg from January to April and on 7th April I went for bloods again. My TSH became too high (11.97 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)) and free T4 was within normal range (free T4 : 14.3 pmol/L (12.0 -22.0)). I was then switched to Euthyrox 0.05mg which I have been taking since April till now in June.

My TSH and free are within the normal range as shown above in my first paragraph. My thyroid antibodies are high, my total cholesterol level is high. My vitamins are within normal range. My symptoms of my thyroid issues are :

-hair loss

-brittle nails

-feeling cold

-menstrual issues (absence of period or light bleeding)

-feeling cold

-loss of weight

-high cholesterol

-occasionally muscle pains

-stomach sensitivity : pain and bloating (sensitivity to milk, cream and spicy food)

My current medications that I take are :

- Euthyrox : 0.05mg

- Minesse (oral contraceptive)

- gastrochoice probiotic

-multivitamin

-Omegq 3,6,9 (flaxseed brand)

I have tried to give a full picture of my thyroid issues and health. I need help to try to get things under control especially all the symptoms and the high cholesterol.

The dr has told me to continue with 0.05mg Euthyrox and to go for bloods again in July.

At the moment I am not sure if the Euthyrox dose that I am on is the best dose for me. And also not sure how to deal with the other problems. I’ve been trying to do some research on what health changes I can makes or what natural products I can use to help my cholesterol and thyroid issues and for my hair loss, but I am also afraid to mix natural products with my current medication, any advice on that as well ?

[ChoH in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry I was diagnosed with my thyroid problem in October 2019 and started on Euthyrox 50mcg and 100mcg on alternating days then changed to 25mcg after my TSH levels dropped then changed back to 50mcg which I have taking since April this year to present

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ChoH]

I was started on Euthyrox 0.05mg and 1.0mg on alternative days. I was on this treatment for one year (2019 - 2020)

So you started on the equivalent of 75mcg per day

my TSH levels then became too low (0.02 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)) and free T4 became high (free T4: 26.8 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0).

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

Many people will have low TSH when on adequate dose levothyroxine

Most important results are ALWAYS ft3

Ft4 was high, but some people need it high to get high enough Ft3

If you took levothyroxine before blood test high Ft4 was false high

If you were SLIGHTLY over medicated…..dose should have been reduced a small amount

Eg to 50mcg 5 days week and 100mcg twice week

High cholesterol is linked to being under medicated

Hairloss linked to being under medicated and/or low iron/ferritin

Ferritin was very low in 2018

On levothyroxine we need OPTIMAL Vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 to ft3

Vitamin D at least around 40ng/ml

Ferritin at least half way through range

B12 is good as over 500

Folate ok at half way through range

Suggest you get ferritin retested

Work on improving low vitamin D

TSH : 0.78 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

- free T4 : 20.0 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[ChoH in reply to SlowDragon]

My test was done around 10 am as I had to wait at the Drs office, I had taken my levo that morning. I wasn’t aware that I was not supposed to take it in the morning of bloods being done. Thank you for that, will ensure that I do bloods again without taking medication on the same morning. The dr had requested for FT3, labs did not measure it. I feel my physician is only focusing on my hypothyroidism he didn’t even mention anything about my Hashimotos, he just said the treatment is the same. Because my TSH and T4 were now within normal range he told me to continue with the euthyrox 0.05mg. But my hair is still falling, my cholesterol is still high and my menstrual cycle is still not right. I’m going for bloods again towards mid July as this will be 6 weeks since my last bloods were done

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ChoH]

Request they retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

Many many Hashimoto’s patients develop food intolerances

Gluten and dairy are most common

[ChoH in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m from South Africa